Musical drinking cup storage device

ABSTRACT

A musical drinking cup storage device comprising a liquid storage member having a detachable compartment for holding items such as food or medicine and an integrated speaker with audio recording and playback capabilities. The detachable compartment and integrated speaker may be used with or separately from the liquid storage member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to drinking utensils and, more specifically, a drinking utensil for toddlers.

BACKGROUND

At some point, all children transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass. To help with the transition, children usually learn how to drink by using a sippy cup. For some children, learning how to use a sippy cup can be challenging because they no longer have the comfort of a parent's voice to soothe them while they drink. Current sippy cups on the market vary in size and decorative design but they do not provide a means to soothe a child or make them feel “at home” and comfortable regardless of where the sippy cup is being used. Most children feel comfortable when they hear the voice of a parent or relative or a familiar song or melody.

It would be advantageous to have a drinking device with a musical component that will help soothe children and help facilitate the transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass. Additionally, it would be advantageous for the musical component of the drinking device to contain a storage compartment for holding items such as food or medicine.

Attempts at developing a musical drinking device to soothe a child while they consume a beverage have been addressed in several disclosures. One attempt can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,060, which discloses a musical adaptor for a nursing bottle. However, this disclosure does not address the issue of a musical adaptor for a sippy cup nor do they address the issue of recording personal messages from patents, relatives, or loved ones. U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,034 also discloses a similar adaptor, but also fails to address the aforementioned issues.

Another attempt can be seen with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,893, which describes a baby bottle attachment with audio recording and playback capabilities. However, this disclosure fails to describe a sippy cup for purposes of transitioning a child from a bottle to a glass or cup. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0061985 describes a similar attachment that emits sound and light, but also does fails to address the aforementioned issue.

An attempt to create a drinking device with a storage compartment can be seen with respect to U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,353, which discloses a drinking cup device with a detachable storage base. However, the disclosure does not address the need for a musical sippy cup storage device.

An attempt to incorporate a storage compartment into a children's drinking device can be seen in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0168440, which describes a sippy cup with a snack receptacle incorporated into the lid. However, the disclosure does not address the issue of soothing the child and facilitating the transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass.

An attempt to develop a drinking device with both musical and storage base capabilities can be seen with respect to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0251486. However, the disclosure describes a nursing bottle where the detachable musical base and detachable storage base are separate components that can only be used interchangeably.

Various attempts have been made to solve the problems which may be found in the related art but have been unsuccessful. A need exists for a reliable method and device to avoid the challenges and problems with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that in the present disclosure, all embodiments are provided as illustrative and non-limiting representatives of many possible embodiments. In addition, the terms “is,” “can,” “will,” and the like are herein used as synonyms for and interchangeable with terms such as “may,” “may provide for,” and “it is contemplated that the present invention may” and so forth.

Furthermore, all elements listed by name, such as a cup, audio, storage container, etc., are herein meant to include or encompass all equivalents for such elements. For example, in addition to “audio,” any sound including speech, music, or any audible sound is also contemplated by the present invention. Such equivalents are contemplated for each element named in its particular herein. Also, while the invention will be described in children drinking utensils, it is understood that the invention is not limited in scope to use with children drinking but may be used with other types of drinking utensils. Such other types of drinking utensils may include, by way of illustration and not limitation, coffee cups, vacuum flasks, jars, mugs, and cups.

For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention are provided herein. It is to be understood that not all such aspects, advantages, or novel features may be provided in any one particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one aspect, advantage, or novel feature or group of features without achieving all aspects, advantages, or novel features as may be taught or suggested.

In view of view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known art, the present invention provides a novel solution for a musical storage device incorporated into a drinking utensil. The general purpose of the present invention, which shall be described subsequently in greater detail, is to soothe the child as he or she consumes a beverage and learns to transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. By way of non-limiting example, the present invention provides a novel solution for soothing the child as they consume a beverage and learn to transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

The present invention provides a musical drinking cup storage device for holding liquids such as water, milk, juice, or other liquid beverages. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the musical drinking cup storage device comprises a liquid storage member in the form of a cylindrical cup, and detachable base portion. The detachable base portion comprises an upper container member fixedly connected to a lower speaker member having a base surface. The interior of the upper container member is a compartment for holding items such as food or medicine. The lower speaker member contains an integrated speaker, and a lid removably fixed to the base surface of the lower speaker member.

In a preferred embodiment, the detachable base portion can be removed from the liquid storage member base by twisting the detachable base portion off of the liquid storage member base in a counterclockwise direction until the detachable base portion is fully removed. The detachable base portion and the liquid storage member can be used together as a single drinking cup device when joined, or independently of each other when separated. When the detachable base portion is removed, items such as food or medicine can be stored in the interior compartment of the upper container member of the detachable base portion. The detachable base portion can then be removably attached to the liquid storage member by twisting the detachable base portion onto the bottom of the liquid storage member base in a clockwise direction until fully attached to the liquid storage member base. The detachable base portion may be fabricated from a variety of materials including polymers, metals, alloys, wood, or other materials standard in the industry or art, and may be transparent, opaque, or non-transparent.

In another embodiment, the detachable base portion can be removed from the liquid storage member base by pulling the detachable base portion off from the liquid storage member base until the detachable base portion is fully removed. The detachable base portion can then be removably attached to the liquid storage member by inserting the upper container member end of the detachable base portion into the liquid storage member base until fully attached to the liquid storage member base.

In another embodiment, a lid is removably fixed to the bottom surface of the lower speaker member. When the detachable base portion is detached from the bottom of the liquid storage member, a user may remove the lid from the bottom surface of the lower speaker member and use the lid to cap and seal the open compartment of the upper container member. The lid may be made from silicone, polypropylene, or some other similar material.

In a yet another embodiment, the lower speaker member has Bluetooth capabilities and may be used to play or record audio, such as voice or music. In other embodiments, the audio capabilities of the lower speaker member can be used when the detachable base portion is either removably attached to or detached from the base of the liquid storage member.

In some embodiments, the musical drinking cup storage device can be fabricated in the form of a child's drinking cup such as a sippy cup, training cup, or straw cup.

The unique features of this product will provide the following benefits for consumers everywhere: it may soothe and comfort children as they consume beverages, it may encourage children to consume healthy beverages and food, it may facilitate the transition from using a bottle to using a cup or glass, and it may provide the benefit of carrying different consumables, such a food and medicine, in a single device.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in terms of the components and configurations, it is understood to that the invention is not intended to be limited to those specific dimensions or configurations but is to be accorded the full breadth and scope of the spirit of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the musical drinking cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the musical cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the musical cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the musical drinking cup storage device, where the liquid storage member and detachable base portion are separately detached, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the detachable base portion of the musical drinking device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the detachable base portion of the musical drinking device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the detachable base portion of the musical drinking device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a new and more effective musical drinking cup storage device.

All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the actual dimensions and proportions of any embodiment or element of an embodiment disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by its intended use.

It is to be understood that the drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate potential embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. In addition, the first digit of each reference number indicates the figure where the element first appears.

As used in this disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises” and “comprised” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Well-known features, elements or techniques may not be shown in detail in order not to obscure the embodiments.

Turning attention to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a musical drinking cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, a viewer may perceive a musical drinking cup storage device 100 having a liquid storage member 101 and a detachable base portion 102. The detachable base portion 102 comprises an upper container member 102 a fixedly connected to a lower speaker member 102 b having a base surface 104. The lower speaker member 102 b contains a charging port 103 and a lid 105 removably attached to the base surface 104.

With respect to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the musical cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, a viewer may perceive that the detachable base portion 102 can be removed from the liquid storage member 101. Specifically, the detachable base portion 102 is twisted off of the liquid storage member 101 base in a counterclockwise direction along the outer rim screw-thread 202 of the liquid storage member 101 until the detachable base portion 102 is fully removed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper container member 102 a contains an interior compartment 203 for holding items such as food or medicine, an inner rim screw-thread 201 for attachment of the detachable base portion 102 onto the liquid storage member 101. The detachable base portion 102 can then be removably attached to the liquid storage member 101 by aligning the inner rim screw-thread 201 of the detachable base portion 102 with the outer rim screw-thread 202 of the liquid storage member 101 and twisting the detachable base portion 102 in a clockwise direction along the outer rim screw-thread 202 until fully secured to the liquid storage member 101.

In FIG. 3, an exploded view of the musical cup storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, a viewer may perceive that the upper container member 102 a contains attachment clips 301 for removably attaching the detachable base portion 102 to the liquid storage member 101. Specifically, the attachment clips 301 insert into the circular groove 302 on the liquid storage member 101 when the detachable base portion 102 is firmly pressed onto the liquid storage member 101.

As may be generally perceived in FIG. 4, the detachable base portion 102 and the liquid storage member 101 can be used together as a single musical drinking cup device 100 when joined, or independently of each other when separated. In an embodiment shown, the detachable base portion 102 can be removed from the liquid storage member 101, without affecting the upright positioning of the liquid storage member 101. When the detachable base portion 102 is removed, items such as food or medicine can be stored in the interior compartment 203 of the upper container member 102 a of the detachable base portion 102.

With respect to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the detachable base portion 102 of the musical drinking device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a lid 105 is removably attached to the base surface 104 of the lower speaker member 102 b.

In FIG. 6 a viewer may perceive the lid 105 secured 601 to the upper container member 102 a. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a viewer may also perceive that the integrated speaker grill 602 is parallel to the base surface 104 of the lower speaker member 102 b and resides at least ⅛ inch above 603 the base surface 104.

In FIG. 7 shows another perspective view of the lid 105 secured 601 to the upper container member 102 a of the detachable base portion 102. When the detachable base portion 102 is detached from the liquid storage member 101, the upper container member 102 a may be sealed by removing the lid 105 from the base surface 104 of the lower speaker member 102 b and removably attaching the lid 105 to the upper container member 102 a.

In a yet another embodiment, the lower speaker member 102 b has Bluetooth capabilities (not shown) and may be used to play or record audio, such as voice or music. In other embodiments, the audio capabilities of the lower speaker member 102 b can be used when the detachable base portion 102 is either removably attached to or detached from the liquid storage member 101.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that other versions are possible. As various changes could be made in the above description without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be illustrative and not used in a limiting sense. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained in this disclosure.

All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” for performing a specified function or “step” for performing a specified function should not be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112.

While the present invention generally described herein has been disclosed in connection with a number of embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A musical drinking cup storage device comprising: a liquid storage member having a base surface; a detachable base having at least one upper container member fixedly connected to an audio-playing lower member, and a base surface; and a lid removably attached to the base surface of the audio-playing lower member.
 2. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the detachable base is removably connected to the base surface of the liquid storage member.
 3. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the base surface of the liquid storage member comprises an outer rim that is threaded.
 4. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the at least one upper container member of the detachable base has an interior compartment.
 5. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 3 wherein the interior compartment of the at least one upper container member is threaded to cooperate with the threading of the outer rim of the base surface of the liquid storage member.
 6. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the base surface of the liquid storage member comprises an outer rim in the shape of a circular groove.
 7. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 6 wherein the interior compartment of the at least one upper container member has at least one clip that inserts into the circular groove of the base surface of the liquid storage member.
 8. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the audio-playing lower member has Bluetooth capabilities.
 9. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the liquid storage member is in the form of a vacuum flask.
 10. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the liquid storage member is in the form of a coffee mug.
 11. The musical drinking cup storage device of claim 1 wherein the liquid storage member is in the form of a jar. 